housing market and the economy: Nationwide Housing Shortage - 11/28/16 11:07 AM
As generations grow older, new waves of people are entering the housing market. After graduating college and beginning their career, people in their 20’s begin to look for their first home. These new buyers make a major influence on the nationwide demand in the housing market. To keep housing rates at a healthy level, the amount of vacant houses need to meet the number of new market entrants. Today, concern has risen over our current housing shortage.
With 318.9 million people in the U.S., and 16,585,415 vacant homes in 2015, only 5.2% of this growing population will be able to find a … (1 comments)

housing market and the economy: 97% of Montana Borrowers Have Equity in their Home - 03/24/15 04:06 AM
If Montana already didn’t have enough positive trends for their housing market, more good news came from Realtor Magazine in mid March. The magazine released which states had the highest percentage of borrowers with positive equity in their home—and Montana ranked 3rd, at 97 percent. The magazine analyzed any property with an active mortgage in the United States to reach their numbers. Montana and the Gallatin County rebounded comparatively well from the housing crisis compared to many of the other states in the nation, but seeing how many borrowers in the state have equity in their home really cements that fact.
In … (0 comments)

housing market and the economy: The Beige Book--The Fed's Survey of The Housing Market - 04/13/12 04:49 AM
Fed: Economy Sees Steady Growth
The Beige Book is the Feds survey of the housing market and it is showing continual signs of strengthening. The Federal Reserve described it as moving at a “modest to moderate” improvement rate. The only grey cloud is the rising gas prices. Since the economy is a complex structure of interwoven concerns and markets, high prices at the pump may translate into restriction in the flow of overall money as everyone’s confidence in the market stands on the thin ice.
But for now, the news is positive. “Residential real estate activity also improved in most … (0 comments)